Daniel 7 – Beastly Ambitions

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I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man,and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away,and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14, ESV).

One of the literary themes in Daniel is portrayed by the lions in Chapter 6. The lions symbolized more than the Persian method used to execute Daniel. Beast imagery is used multiple times in the book of Daniel.

Daniel 6 linked the events of Daniel in the lion’s den to the prophetic vision of Daniel in Chapter 7 and his visions throughout the remainder of the book. In Chapter 6 Daniel is surrounded by deadly beasts. In Chapter 7 God’s faithful people are surrounded by beastly kingdoms.

Throughout the book of Daniel there is a progression of beastly ambitions by kings and kingdoms that are ultimately thwarted by God’s rule. In Daniel 4 King Nebuchadnezzar became like a beast until he acknowledged that God was the supreme ruler over earthly kingdoms. In Chapter 6 Daniel is thrown among beasts and is saved by a heavenly visitation, which King Darius acknowledged by decreeing that Daniel’s God is the Almighty God who exercises dominion over all the kingdoms of the earth. Then, in Daniel 7 beasts portrayed a series of earthly empires that emerged and declined under the sovereign rule of God.

Daniel saw four great beasts rising from a turbulent sea–a lion, bear, leopard, and a terrifying unnamed fourth beast (vs. 1–8). In the ancient biblical worldview, the sea frequently represented chaos and disorder in contrast to God’s order. So, the turbulent sea symbolized the chaotic, restless world of humanity. The beast imagery of the vision is grotesquely powerful as beasts came out of the turbulent sea. The beasts represented earthly kingdoms arising from human turmoil, conflict, conquest, and violence.

The visions of Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 described essentially the same progression of empires from different perspectives. The most common interpretation is that the first beast, the lion with eagle’s wings represented the Babylonian Empire; the second beast, a bear raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth is the Medo-Persion Empire and the third beast, a leopard with four wings and four heads is the Greek Empire.

The fourth beast was so terrifying it was almost indescribable in terms of animals that Daniel was familiar with. This beast had iron teeth and ten horns. Daniel then noticed a little horn arising among the ten horns of the fourth beast. It had humanlike eyes, spoke arrogantly, and eventually waged war against God’s holy people.

The common interpretation is the fourth beast represented the Roman Empire. Because the fourth beast’s destruction is also associated with the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom, another view is that while Rome was the historical fourth empire, the final phase of the fourth beast may remain in the future. The ten horns may represent a final coalition of rulers from which the little horn—the Antichrist—will arise. This ruler persecutes God’s people before being destroyed when God’s Kingdom arrives. This interpretation links Daniel 7 with Revelation 13 and 17 because John’s beast has striking similarities to Daniel’s beasts and Revelation 17:12 speaks of ten horns representing ten kings.

As Daniel continues to observe, the scene suddenly shifts from earthly violence to a heavenly courtroom (vs. 9-10). Daniel sees the “Ancient of Days” (God the Father) take His seat on a fiery throne with thousands (more like millions if you do the math) serving Him. The Ancient of Days is presiding over the heavenly assembly and his divine council renders judgment over all that Daniel is witnessing, condemning and destroying the arrogant beast (vs. 11-12).

But that’s not the end of Daniel’s vision. Next, there appeared “one like a son of man” (vs. 13) riding upon the clouds to present Himself before the Ancient of Days. In biblical prophecy riding upon the clouds is associated with deity. But, what’s remarkable in Daniel 7:13-14 is that instead of the Ancient of Days riding the clouds, this other human-like figure comes riding the clouds. And, instead of riding the clouds to earth the Son of Man rides the clouds before the throne of the Ancient of Days, who then confers on Him all authority over the people and nations of the earth.

These two aspects of the vision (beasts and Son of Man) may seem somewhat disjointed. But, the vision of the cloud-riding Son of Man consummates the vision of the ambitious beasts.

As earthly empires rise and fall and the political power they wield becomes increasingly inhumane, violent, arrogant, and hostile toward God, God convenes His heavenly council and renders judgment upon the evil empires. Then, He confers supreme power and authority over the nations upon the Son of Man, who then shares His rule with the faithful people of God: “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him” (vs. 27).

So, the message of Daniel 7 isn’t so much about predicting what historical empire will replace another. Rather, it demonstrates there are two competing ruling powers on earth: The human kingdoms, the beasts that arise from the sea, attempt to replace God’s rule. God’s Kingdom rule is personified in the Son of Man who is conferred with dominion over all the nations of the earth.

Remarkably, the Son of Man does not amass His everlasting Kingdom for Himself but shares His reign with the faithful people of God who have sworn allegiance to God’s Kingdom.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28, ESV)

Cosmic Trajectory – Daniel 6

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Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions” (Daniel 6:25-27, ESV)

If you spent any time in Sunday School as a child, you are probably very familiar with the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. If you didn’t learn about it as a child in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School, then it’s likely you’ve often heard references to the story and it’s familiar theme, God’s deliverance of his faithful people, in your pastor’s sermons.

While faithfulness and deliverance is certainly the storyline of the tale, there’s so many underlying theological implications and so much literary symbolism to the story that we can’t recount all of it in this post. So, we will touch on just one of the symbolic plot lines in the story that I hope will encourage you to dig more deeply into the Old Testament biblical narratives in your own Bible reading and study.

Although the account of Daniel in the lion’s den parallels the account of the fiery furnace in Daniel 3 (e.g., both stories expose imperial power’s inability to control personal allegiance and faithfulness to God), have you ever considered the story of Daniel in the lion’s den as symbolic of the burial and resurrection of Jesus?

There are several striking parallels between the events of Daniel being cast into the den of lions in Daniel 6 and Jesus’ burial and resurrection in Matthew 27-28.

In the corresponding biblical accounts, both were innocent men in which their enemies conspired against them, the authorities condemned them, and both received the death penalty. Daniel is put in a lion’s den where everyone assumes he will die and Jesus’ body is placed in a tomb. The openings of both were covered with a stone and sealed by the governing authority. In both accounts an angelic or divine being appears–in Daniel’s case to rescue him from the lions and in Jesus’ case to announce His resurrection. Finally, in both stories the prisoners emerge alive from their interment and are accordingly vindicated.

The parallels between the stories become more apparent when Matthew specifically mentions both the stone and the official seal in his account of Jesus’ burial and resurrection (see Matthew 27:58, 66). In Daniel 6 the seal on the stone on the lions’ den meant Daniel’s fate could not be rescinded by humans. The authorities had officially closed off his place of execution and the lions’ den basically functioned as a symbolic tomb for Daniel.

We learn that even the king himself could not rescue Daniel (see Daniel 6:14-15; ironically, the king that sentenced him is unable to free him). At daybreak the king ran to the lions’ den, the stone was removed and Daniel came out alive (Didn’t something similar happen at Jesus’ tomb the morning of His resurrection? See Matthew 28:1-2) Although Daniel being taken out of the lions’ den in 6:23 wasn’t a literal resurrection, symbolically it was deliverance from death.

Drawing similarities between the stories is not to say that Matthew is explicitly referencing Daniel. Yet, the literary correlation is substantial enough that the Daniel in the lions’ den story unquestionably provides an Old Testament context for understanding that Jesus, like Daniel, was a righteous sufferer who was condemned by human kingdoms but ultimately vindicated by God.

But, let me make one last important point about the link between these stories. The theological message of Daniel 6 and Matthew 27 are the same–a faithful servant who is condemned to death and miraculously delivered from death by God. Unfortunately, that message is often presumed to mean “If you’re faithful enough, God will rescue you from your difficulties.”

But, the crux of these two stories is that God does not necessarily keep his faithful people out of the lions’ den or out of the fiery furnace (as in Daniel 3) or out of the tomb. Rather, He meets them inside it!

God Almighty is the God of last resort! He doesn’t necessarily provide us with an escape from adversity and suffering. God meets us in our affliction and distress to deliver and vindicate.

This biblical truth is reinforced by this cosmic trajectory from Daniel to Matthew and demonstrates its ultimate fulfillment in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Like Daniel, Jesus isn’t spared the lion’s den or fiery furnace, so to speak. He actually goes through death. Then God vindicates Him, and ultimately the humanity that Jesus lived and died for, through resurrection.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16, ESV).

Inevitable – Daniel 5

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“And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven” (Daniel 5:22-23, ESV).

You have certainly heard and probably used the expression, “the writing is on the wall” or “the handwriting is on the wall.” The phrase is often used whenever an inevitable result or imminent danger has become apparent. In Daniel 5, what should have been apparent and inevitable to King Belshazzar of Babylon seemed to allude him.

Belshazzar’s feast in Daniel 5 took place years, possibly decades, after the events of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4 and under the kingship of a different king of Babylon. King Belshazzar was once thought to be a fictional king because ancient records named Nabonidus as Babylon’s last king. Later cuneiform discoveries showed that Belshazzar was Nabonidus’s son and served as co-regent while Nabonidus was away from Babylon.

Belshazzar also could have been Nebuchadnezzar II’s grandson through his mother though this is not certain. Daniel’s ascribing him as Nebuchadnezzar’s “son” in vs. 22 is consistent with ancient usage where the term often means descendant or royal successor.

In this chapter King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of all those gathered for the feast. Belshazzar commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem be brought in so that he and his lords, his wives, and his concubines could drink from them (vs. 1-3). Basically, they were indulging in a drunken revelry and debasing sacred Jewish temple vessels by using them as wine goblets.

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Pompous People – Daniel 4

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“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37, ESV).

Have you ever been watching a movie and the chronological order of the story reverts to a previous or later time like “3 days ago” or “5 years later”?

If the story in Daniel 4 was a movie, Chapter 4 would begin with “8 years later” in the subtitle because the narrative of the chapter begins at the end of the story. The proclamation of God’s sovereignty Nebuchadnezzar makes in vs. 3, “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation,” is the result of the events that take place in the remainder of the chapter 8 years earlier!

Nebuchadnezzar has yet another dream that he wants to know the meaning of and he calls on the the wise men of Babylon for its interpretation. This time, in contrast to his dream in Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar tells the wise men about the dream. And again, among the king’s advisors only Daniel is able to interpret the dream.

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Fatal Faith – Daniel 3

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 “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18, ESV).

Daniel 2 tells the story of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon having a troubling dream that none of his wise men could explain. He demanded they not only interpret his dream but also describe the dream itself–otherwise they would be executed! Daniel, a Hebrew exile to Babylon, prayed to God who revealed to Daniel both the dream and its meaning. Daniel then explained the dream and its interpretation to King Nebuchadnezzar and prevented the execution of the Babylonian wise men including himself and his three fellow exiles.

At the end of Chapter 2 King Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed: “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery” (vs. 47). Nevertheless, by the beginning of Daniel 3, some eight years later, Nebuchadnezzar’s acclaim for the sovereignty of Israel’s God seemed to have dissipated. In Daniel 3 Nebuchadnezzar made a 90-foot high golden image, presumably of himself, for all the Babylonians to worship!

Though not explicitly stated, there seems to be a literary connection between the stories in Daniel 2 and 3. In Daniel 2 Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a statue with a head of gold, which represented Nebuchadnezzar’s empire: “You are the head of gold” (Daniel 2:38, ESV). The body of the statue was made of several substances representing the rise and fall of multiple historical empires after the Babylonian empire. But, in Daniel 3 Nebuchadnezzar made an entire image of gold.

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Absolute Power – Daniel 2

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“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons;
    he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have
    understanding;
he reveals deep and hidden things;
    he knows what is in the darkness,
    and the light dwells with him
(Daniel 2:20-22, ESV).

In Daniel 1 the king of Babylon invaded Judah and besieged Jerusalem. Many people from the nobility and royal family of Judah were exiled to Babylon. Daniel and three of his friends were among the exiles. As youths they were to be educated in the Chaldean language and culture. The faithfulness of Daniel and his friends is tested and with God’s favor upon them they are proven to have greater understanding and knowledge than all the Chaldean wise men in Nebuchadnezzar’s court.

In Daniel 2 King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and wanted the wise men of his court to interpret it. The thing is, he didn’t want them just to interpret the dream; he wanted them to reveal what the dream was and then interpret it.

King Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t exactly an enlightened ruler and when his wise men couldn’t tell him the dream, he was furious and decreed for them all to be executed. Apparently, Daniel and his friends were at the top of the kill list. When the captain of the king’s guard came to take them to be executed, Daniel requested a meeting with the king to tell him he could interpret the dream.

Daniel told his friends about King Nebuchadnezzar’s decree and they all prayed and asked for God’s help in knowing and interpreting the dream to Nebuchadnezzar. And, God revealed the dream and its interpretation in a night vision to Daniel! In response to revealing Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to him, Daniel proclaimed the song of praise celebrating God’s power, wisdom, and control over history in vs. 20-22.

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For the Sake of Others – Daniel 1

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“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, ‘I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age. So you would endanger my head with the king.’ Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ‘Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink……’ At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the kings food” (Daniel 1:8-15, ESV).

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem in 605 BC and among the Jewish nobility and royal family deported to Babylon were Daniel and his three friends. They were to be trained in the Babylonian language and literature and assimilated into Babylonian culture. (vs. 1-4).

To protect themselves from being entangled in the temptations of the idolatrous Babylonian culture, Daniel and his friends used their distinctive kosher diet as a way of avoiding complete assimilation and retaining their distinctive identity as Jewish exiles in Babylon. This restrictive diet continually reminded them that they were the chosen people of God in a foreign land.

So, Daniel asked the chief of the eunuchs, who was in charge of training the youths, if they could only eat vegetables and drink water. The chief of the eunuchs was hesitant at first, believing that such a diet would diminish their health, but agreed to try it for ten days.

At the end of the ten days they were noticeably in better health than all the other youths who ate the king’s food!

Not only were they healthier, but God blessed them with learning and skill in all literature and wisdom and Daniel had understanding of dreams and visions (vs. 17).

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Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse – Ephesians 2:1-8

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“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:1-8, ESV).

A zombie apocalypse is coming according to many current movies and televisions shows fixated on zombies. In the movies the zombie apocalypse is a fictional world where societal collapse occurs due to an overwhelming outbreak of undead, infectious human beings.

But maybe the zombie apocalypse is already here!

In these verses from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians the zombie apocalypse may not be so fictional and it may have already arrived! Ephesians 2:1-2 indicate there is already an overwhelming outbreak of the walking dead causing societal collapse: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (vs. 1-2).

According to Paul, there is walking dead everywhere. He says it is the way of this world. So, we live in a fallen world that is overwhelmingly inhabited by people who are spiritually dead!

Because the zombie apocalypse seems to have started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden!

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Kiss the Son – Psalm 2

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Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry,
    and you perish in the way,
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 2:10-12, ESV)

In the Second Temple period (about 516 BC–70 AD) and early Jewish literature, this Psalm was usually read about Israel’s king (a historical Davidic ruler) or about a future Messiah from David’s line. It was possibly a royal Psalm used at the coronation of a king of Judah.

There’s no doubt that it had a messianic message: “The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (vs. 7-9).

Luke in Acts 13:33 and the Hebrew writer in Hebrews 1:5 and 5:5 quoted from vs. 7 about the Divine Sonship of Jesus. John in his Revelation refers to the messianic conquering king in Revelation 2:27, 12:5 and 19:15 using the imagery of vs. 8-9.

While Psalm 2 presents a warning or notification to the kings and rulers of the ancient world, let’s look at it from another point of view. There is a sense in which this Psalm applies to all people–to you and me.

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How To Be a Christian Without Being Religious – Matthew 12:1-14

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At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “…. If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice,you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:1-8, CSB).

In the early 1970’s Fritz Ridenour published a book, How To Be a Christian Without Being Religious. Presenting a practical commentary on the New Testament book of Romans, the book distinguishes between genuine faith and religious hypocrisy as it explores how “religion” as a practice can become empty when it is severed from authentic faith based on a personal relationship with Christ.

In Matthew 12 Jesus gives us a workshop on religion vs. relationship.

At the beginning of Matthew 12 Jesus and His disciples are walking through a grain field on the Sabbath. As they passed through the field they picked and ate some of the heads of grain. Some Pharisees saw the disciples picking grain on the Sabbath and complained to Jesus that it was unlawful. For modern disciples, the greater offense appears to be stealing another man’s grain. But, under the Mosaic law handpicking grain from a neighbor’s field was not considered stealing (see Deuteronomy 23:25).

First century rabbis divided work prohibitions into dozens of categories with each having many subcategories. Three prohibited categories were picking, threshing and winnowing; thus, by picking the grain and rubbing it between their hands to remove the husks the disciples were guilty on all three counts!

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